centage of District of Columbia residents who had purchased firearms outside the District, and second, what percentage of that total had records of arrest with the Metropolitan Police Department.

The results are most certainly alarming. It was determined that two of the five dealers whose records were examined sold to a significant number of District residents. Those two dealers are located in Maryland, where regulations controlling over-the-counter sales are minimal.

The records of Apple Hardware, Inc., in Chillum, Md., show that 58 percent of their handgun sales during 1964 and early 1965 were to residents of the District of Columbia. Subsequent criminal records checks on these purchasers reveal that 40 percent of them have criminal records in the District's police files.

The records of the Suitland Trading Post in Suitland, Md., show that 40 percent of their firearms sales during 1964 and early 1965, were to residents of the District of Columbia. Subsequent criminal records checks here reveal that 23 percent of the purchasers have records in the District of Columbia.

While the dealers in question have not violated the letter of the Federal law, the fact remains that because of an apparent weakness in the law, this interstate traffic in firearms to criminals continues to flourish.

The arrest records of these purchasers which I have here in my hand—I have them all here-are quite revealing. Every citizen of the District of Columbia should be appalled after examining these records at the ease with which a felon or habitual misdemeanant can take a short bus ride and purchase a deadly weapon.

One purchaser of a gun has an arrest record which includes housebreaking, assault, petit larceny, unauthorized use of an auto, and robbery. He bought his gun in late 1964, and in February of 1965 was charged with a holdup by the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington.

Another purchaser bought his gun in late 1964, and in March of 1965 he was arrested for armed robbery.

A third purchaser, who bought his gun in 1965, has an arrest record which dates back to 1956 and includes petit larceny, assault, housebreaking, and robbery. He was convicted on a robbery charge in 1958, and was sentenced to prison. He was later paroled and subsequently arrested on another robbery charge.

A further analysis of the home addresses of these criminals and the location of the nearest District gun store was of even greater significance. Some of the gun enthusiasts argued that if it is made illegal to sell to an out-of-State resident, this will be a great burden. It is interesting to find that people who have gone into Maryland to buy these guns were within easy range of places where they could buy guns right in the District of Columbia. The majority of these persons lived within a dozen blocks of a store which sells weapons over the counter in the District of Columbia. The District operates under the Uniform Firearms Act, however, which requires the seller to wait 48 hours before delivering a handgun to a purchaser in addition to notification of the Police Department.

It is not too difficult to understand why these people prefer traveling in most cases 4 to 6 miles in order to purchase weapons where they are subject to virtually no control.

Our most flagrant case concerned a person with a record of 71 misdemeanor arrests who lived in the 1200 block of Massachusetts Avenue within 5 blocks of the nearest gun store. This gentleman traveled 8 miles in order to guarantee his anonymity.

In contrast to Maryland, a check of the Virginia stores which operate under local laws requiring a waiting period similar to that of the District of Columbia and notification of the local police prior to delivery, failed to show any significant sales to District residents with criminal records. They do not go to places where there is some effort to maintain control over the sale of these weapons.

The situation I have just described clearly illustrates the case with which virtually anyone, including convicted criminals, may purchase firearms outside the jurisdiction of their residence and make a mockery of the laws of their own community.

I might add that this situation is not peculiar to the Metropolitan Washington area. Information furnished us by the New Jersey State Police indicates that the laws of that State are circumvented by persons traveling into nearby Maryland, purchasing firearms and then returning to New Jersey.

In cooperation with Maryland authorities, the New Jersey State Police determined that 27 New Jersey residents purchased handguns in just 1 Maryland jurisdiction.

Five of the purchasers used the same fictitious address in Plainfield, N.J., and two others used fictitious addresses in Newark and in Elizabeth. One of the purchasers who used the fictitious address in Plainfield purchased 13 .22-caliber revolvers and one .25-caliber automatic. Subsequent investigation revealed that this man is actually a resident of New York City and has a lengthy police record there and a record with the FBI.

We could go on, but I think the point is obvious. We must take steps to control this traffic. The only reasonable and enforceable method of controlling it is through the provision of S. 1592 which prevents a dealer from selling to residents of other States. That is the reason for it.

We will hear from officials of the State of New Jersey at a later date and further information of the type I have just described will be presented.

Another area with which S. 1592 is concerned is the importation of foreign-made and military surplus firearms, which are sold both through retail outlets and by mail order in the United States.

During 1963 and 1964, available records show that some 2,167,629 firearms were imported into this country. When this figure is broken down, we find that 847,633 pistols and revolvers and 1,319,996 rifles and shot guns were imported.

Included among the various types, models, and makes of firearms which poured into this country is the .20 millimeter Lahti antitank gun, which we have on display here today. This is a rather heavy and cumbersome implement of war. However, the following cases show the various uses to which this gun has been put to use in this country. During 1960, 1961, and 1962, two notorious bank robbers, one a killer, embarked on a spree of terror, armed robbery, and death which resulted in their being the subject of one of the most extensive manhunts in the history of the FBI.

They were apprehended and convicted. The cache of firearms which Federal agents seized from them included two of these .20-millimeter Lahti antitank guns and four cases of live ammunition.

Another case involving this same antitank gun occurred in the State of New Jersey, when three young men were apprehended by the New Jersey State police and game wardens near a rifle range in Sussex County. Included among their arsenal was a 20-millimeter Lahti, One of the youths admitted that while on a camping trip in December of 1962 he had fired the gun at a building which housed a tractor. The shells found their mark and did considerable damage. These youths had purchased this weapon from the same gunrunner who sold heavy weapons including the antitank guns to the two bank robbers described previously.

It is rather distressing to read some of the advertisements for these guns. I want to read one for the record. This is an ad in one of these gunrunners' catalogs, and I will quote it. There is a picture of a gun, and underneath it it says:

This is the ultimate in autoloading rifles. Fires a gigantic rimless, belted cartridge with a 2-ounce steel armor piercing bullet. Ideal for long-range shots at deer and bear or at cars and trucks and even a tank if you happen to see one. We offer this fabulous tool at the price of only $99.50. Armunition is $1 each or $80 for a case of 100.

In talking to the Post Office people, I asked, "What do you do about a company that puts this kind of advertisement in a magazine which is widely disseminated in the country and seen by thousands of youngsters, suggesting that it could be used to fire at cars and trucks?"

This is not the only gunrunner that has advertised this weapon. There have been other ads of a similar character. As you can see from our display it can be purchased from an Oklahoma mail-order firm for a premium price of $119.95 to the low, low price of $79.50 from a North Carolina mail-order firm.

This type of foolishness is to be deplored by intelligent men.

The mere thought of the sale of such violent tools of war to criminals and juveniles is inconceivable yet it is happening in America.

The situations I have described in this statement have resulted in these hearings today.

Twentieth century Americans are demanding a solution and we hope we have the beginnings of that solution in the bill before us today. I have no doubt that the people of this country by a substantial majority want this legislation passed. I am well aware of the large lobby and large amount of money being spent to defeat it, but I think they are going to have a lot of fun trying.

I believe that the design and intent of the bill is sound. If enacted, it would:

(1) Prohibit mail-order sales of firearms to individuals by limiting firearms shipments in interstate and foreign commerce to shipments between importers, manufacturers, and dealers.

(2) Prohibit sales by federally licensed importers, manufacturers, and dealers of all types of firearms to persons under 21 years of age, except that sales of sporting rifles and shotguns could continue to be made to persons over 18 years of age.

(3) Prohibit a Federal licensee from selling a firearm, other than a rifle or shotgun, to any person who is not a resident or businessman of the State in which the licensee's place of business is located.

(4) Curb the flow into the United States of surplus military weapons and other firearms not suitable for sporting purposes. No one seems to know exactly how many of these surplus military weapons there are, but there must be millions of them in this country.

(5) Bring under Federal control interstate shipment and disposition of large caliber weapons such as bazookas and antitank guns, and destructive devices such as grenades, bombs, missiles, and rockets.

(6) Increase license fees under the Federal Firearms Act.

(7) Provide other Federal controls designed to make it feasible for States to control more effectively traffic in firearms within their borders under their police powers.

Now I ask that, unless there is objection, a copy of the bill, S. 1592, be printed in full at this point in the record, and that reports received from the various Government agencies be printed in the appendix. (The document referred to was marked "Exhibit No. 1" and is as follows:)

EXHIBIT No. 1

[S. 1592, 89th Cong., 1st sess.]

A BILL To amend the Federal Firearms Act

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the first section of the Federal Firearms Act (52 Stat. 1250) is amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 1. DEFINITIONS.-As used in this Act

"(1) The term 'person' includes an individual partnership, association, or corporation.

"(2) The term 'interstate or foreign commerce' means commerce between any State or possession (not including the Canal Zone) and any place outside thereof; or between points within the same State or possession (not including the Canal Zone), but through any place outside thereof; or within any possession or the District of Columbia. The term 'State' shall include the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.

"(3) The term 'firearm' means any weapon, by whatsoever name known, which will, or is designed to, or which may be readily converted to, expel a projectile or projectiles by the action of an explosive; the frame or receiver of any such weapon; or any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or any destructive device.

"(4) The term 'destructive device' means any explosive or incendiary (a) bomb or (b) grenade or (c) rocket or (d) missile or (e) similar device, or launching device therefor (except a device which is not designed or redesigned or used or intended for use as a weapon or part thereof); and the term shall also include any type of weapon by whatsoever name known (other than a shotgun having a barrel or barrels of eighteen or more inches in length), which will, or which is designed to, or which may be readily converted to, expel a projectile or projectiles by the action of an explosive, the barrel or barrels of which have a bore of one-half inch or more in diameter: Provided, That the Secretary may exclude from this definition any device which he finds is not likely to be used as a weapon.

"(5) The term 'short-barreled shotgun' means a shotgun having a barrel or barrels of less than eighteen inches in length and any weapon made from a shotgun (whether by alteration, modification or otherwise) if such weapon as modified has an overall length of less than twenty-six inches.

"(6) The term 'short-barreled rifle' means a rifle having a barrel or barrels of less than sixteen inches in length, and any weapon made from a rifle (whether by alteration, modification, or otherwise) if such weapon as modified has an overall length of less than twenty-six inches.

"(7) The term 'importer' means any person engaged in the business of importing or bringing firearms or ammunition into the United States for purposes of sale or distribution; and the term 'licensed importer' means any such person licensed under the provisions of this Act.

"(8) The term 'manufacturer' means any person engaged in the manufacture of firearms or ammunition for purposes of sale or distribution; and the term 'licensed manufacturer' means any such person licensed under the provisions of this Act.

"(9) The term 'dealer' means (a) any person engaged in the business of selling firearms or ammunition at wholesale or retail, (b) any person engaged in the business of repairing such firearms or of making or fitting special barrels, stocks, or trigger mechanisms to firearms, or (c) any person who is a pawnbroker. The term 'licensed dealer' means any dealer who is licensed under the provisions of this Act.

"(10) The term 'pawnbroker' means any person whose business or occupation includes the taking or receiving, by way of pledge or pawn, of any firearm or ammunition as security for the payment or repayment of money. "(11) The term 'indictment' includes an indictment or an information in any court of the United States or of any State or possession under which a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year may be prosecuted.

"(12) The term 'fugitive from justice' means any person who has fled from any State or possession (a) to avoid prosecution for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, or (b) to avoid giving testimony in any criminal proceeding.

"(13) The term 'crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year' shall not include any Federal or State offenses pertaining to antitrust violations, unfair trade practices, restraints of trade, or other similar offenses relating to the regulation of business practices as the Secretary may by regulation designate.

"(14) The term 'Secretary' or 'Secretary of the Treasury' means the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate.

"(15) The term 'ammunition' means pistol or revolver ammunition, ammunition for a destructive device, and ammunition for a machinegun or rifle.” SEC. 2. Section 2 of the Federal Firearms Act is amended to read as follows: "SEC. 2. UNLAWFUL ACTS.-(a) It shall be unlawful for any person (except an importer, manufacturer, or dealer, licensed under the provisions of this Act) to transport, ship, or receive any firearm in interstate or foreign commerce, except

“(1) that in the case of a shotgun or rifle (other than a short-barreled shotgun or short-barreled rifle) nothing in this subsection shall be held to preclude an individual traveling in interstate or foreign commerce from transporting such shotgun or rifle (or having such shotgun or rifle transported for him under such conditions as the Secretary shall by regulations prescribe), if such transportation is for a lawful purpose;

"(2) that in the case of a pistol or revolver, nothing in this subsection shall be held to preclude an individual traveling in interstate or foreign commerce from transporting a pistol or revolver, possessed and carried in conformity with the law of each particular State into (or through) which the pistol or revolver is transported (or having the pistol or revolver transported for him under such conditions as the Secretary or his delegate shall by regulations prescribe), if (A) the transportation is for a lawful purpose not including sale or other disposition thereof, and (B) such individual did not acquire the pistol or revolver in the course of such traveling in interstate or foreign commerce;

"(3) that in the case of a shotgun or rifle (other than a short-barreled shotgun or short-barreled rifle) or a pistol or revolver, nothing in this subsection shall be held to preclude a person from shipping such a firearm to a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer for authorized service and the return of such firearm to the sender under such conditions as the Secretary shall by regulations prescribe;

"(4) that nothing in this subsection shall be construed as making unlawful the shipping or transporting of a firearm in interstate or foreign commerce, by a common or contract carrier in the operation of his business or by United States mail, to a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer (or such transportation as is otherwise authorized under this Act);

"(5) that nothing in this subsection shall be construed as applying in any manner in the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any possession of the United States differently than it would apply if